Wrist watch bracelet



Jan. 28, 1936. F. H. LYNEVJS 7 2,028,791

WRIST WATCH BRACELET Filed Jan. 18, 1955 Li 2174 117.- W; FJJ/HLJMPatented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRIST WATCH BRACELETApplication .lanuary 18, 1935, Serial No. 2,410

14 Claims.

This invention relates to wrist-watch straps, bands and bracelets andparticularly to a'talontype bracelet comprising opposite arcuatelyshapedarms hingedly connected to the sides of the watch and resilientlyoperated to clasp around the wrist of the wearer.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved means for hingingthe arcuate arms or talons of the bracelet to the sides of the watchcasewith the hinges embodying resilient means for swinging the arms intoclosed relationship.

Another object of the invention is to provide hinging means of the typeindicated which may be used with wrist-watches having lugs or ears onthe watch-case for attaching the bracelet thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge-device of the typeindicated having its mechanical elements entirely enclosed and concealedfrom view.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge-device of the typeindicated which is simple in construction, and one which may beconveniently applied to the watch-case without the use of solder,screws, rivets or other extraneous parts or the employment of specialtools for the purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide 30 a hinge-device oi thetype indicated which is compact in size, neat and finished inappearance, and eflicient in use for the purpose specified.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecification which describes the device as embodied in two forms ofconstruction by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanyingdrawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional type of wrist-watchhaving opposite spring- 40 arms or talons connected to its case by thepresent improved hinge-device;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the watch and talon bracelet illustrating bydash lines the manner in which the arms or talons may be swung into openposition for placing the bracelet on and removing it from the wrist;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view partly in section of the hinging meansfor the bracelet;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section of the im- 50 proved hinge devicetaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, illustrating the arm or talon in positionas clasped about the wrist;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the arm or talon swung back on itshinge;

55 Fig. 6 is a composite perspective view of the several parts of thehinge-joint shown in disassembled relationship; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one side of a watch-case showing thehinge-joint mounting or casing as formed integral therewith.

The present improved hinge-device comprises, in general, a box-dikebearing-member or casing adapted for attachment to the spaced lugs orears on the side of the watch-case or formed integral therewith andmeans for hingedly mount- 10 ing the arm or talon to the member.Resilient means in the form of a U-shaped leaf-spring is held within thebearing-member and arranged with one of its leaves acting against thetalonarm to normally swing the latter on its hinge 5 into closedrelationship.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional type ofwrist-watch 2 having spaced ears or lugs 3 on the opposite sides of itscase to which different types of bracelets may be attached. The spacedlugs 3, shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 6, serve as attaching meansfor anchoring the enclosed hinging mechanism 5 to which the talon-likearms I are pivotally connected; but it is to be understood that one ofthe arms may be rigidly fixed to the case 2 and the other arm pivotallyconnected to the case.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawing, the hinging device 5 for each taloncomprises a hollow boxlike bearing-member or casing in preferablyconstructed from sheet-metal to provide side walls II and [2, top andbottom walls l3 and I4 and one end wall l5.adapted to abut the side ofthe watch-case 2 when the member is assembled therewith. The forward endof the bearingmember Ill is open for receiving the end of a talon l, theterminal portion of which is of substantially the same size as theopening to form a closure therefor as will later appear. Thebearingmember 10 may be connected to the watch-case 2 by means of aspring-pin 26 extending through apertures [6 in its side walls H and i2and engaging apertures H in the spaced lugs 3 on the case. Asillustrated in Fig. 3, the spring-pin 2G is constructed as a tubularshell of appropriate length to fit between the walls ll and I2 of themember ID and having spring-pressed telescopic projections or pintles 19at its ends which pass through the apertures I6 and I! in the bearingmember ID and the lugs 3 on the watch-case 2, respectively. This form ofspring-pin is of usual construction and its method of operation adaptsit to be readily assembled within the member H! with its pintlesthereafter engaged with the 5 ears 3 for attachingthe hinge-joint 5thereto while providing for quick detachment of the bearing-member fromthe ears when desired. The walls H and I2 of the member I 0 are extendedbeyond the open end thereof to provide hingeears 23 forpivotally'mounting the arm or talon 1 in the manner as later explained.

The arcuate arms or talons "I may be constructed from relatively thinstock, being preferably constituted as semi-flexible metal strips 8 bentinto shape to conform to the contour of the wearers wrist. The metalstrips 8 constituting the arms or talons I may be plated or sheathedwith precious metal and embossed, engraved or otherwise ornamented;while in other instances the metal is covered with a sheathing of fabricor soft leather as indicated in the present drawing. The fabric orleather sheathing s may be in the form of a glove-cot fitted snuglyabout the tapering strip 8 with the edges of the material bound at thehinge-joint by means of a metal strap or band b to provide a finishedappearance.

The talon l is provided with a cylindrical sleeve or end bearing 25,shown in detail in Fig. 6, for pivotal attachment with thebearing-member ID. The end bearing 25 is constructed from sheet-stockfolded and bent to form the tubular sleeve with wing-portions 26projecting from one side thereof in spaced relationship to adapt them toembrace the end of the strip 8. The wing-portion 26 may be riveted tothe end of the strip 8 in the manner indicated at 21 in Fig. 3 orattached by any other suitable means. The metal of one wing 26 of theend bearing 25 is slotted or cut away at 29, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6,to provide a bearing edge or abutment 30 which is used for a purpose tobe later explained. In this manner the cylindrical sleeve portion of themember 25 is divided into two spaced loops for receiving hinge-pins 32at each side. As herein illustrated, each pin 32 is of substantially'thesame construction as the spring-pin before described, except that it hasonly one spring-pressed pintle 33 projecting from its end. The pintles33 are adapted to engage in bearing apertures M in the hinge-ears 23 onthe bearing-member ID to pivotally connect the arm or talon l thereto.The cylindrical sleeve or end bearing at the end of the talon l is ofsuch length and diameter as to entirely fill the opening at the forwardend of the bearing-member In to form a closure therefor when the talonis pivotally connected to the member.

The arm or talon l is normally urged toward the opposite arm to claspthe watch to the wrist of the wearer by means of a spring 35. As shownin Fig. 6 the spring 35 is preferably constructed from a strip ofresilient material such as tempered steel bent into U-shape to providetwo opposed arms or leaves 35 and 37 extending forwardly from its loopor bowed end.' The spring 35 is positioned within the bearing-member illand held in place by the spring-pin 20 which extends through the loop atits end. One leaf 36 of the spring 35 bears against the inner side ofthe bottom wall M of the member l0 while the opposite leaf 3'! which issomewhat longer projects into the slot or opening 29 in the side of theend member 25 with its flat face engaging the edge or abutment 30. Thepressure of the leaf 3'! against the edge tends to swing the arm ortalon 'i on the ears 23 to normally maintain it in the positionillustrated in Fig. 4, while at the same time being yieldable to adaptthe arm to be swung back into the position shown in Fig. 5.

The various parts of the improved hinge-device are assembled in themanner as next explained. The spring-pin 20 is first inserted throughthe loop of the U-shaped spring as shown in Fig. 6 and both elementsthen assembled with the bearing-member ID. This is accomplished byforcing the pintles IQ of the spring-pin 20 inwardly and sliding the twoparts into the member ID until the pintles register with and snap intothe apertures l6. With the spring 35 and pin 20 in position the arm ortalon 'I with its attached end-member 25 is pivotally connected to theears 23 by forcing the pintles 33 inwardly and sliding the member intoplace between the ears until the pintles snap into the apertures 24. Asthe endmember 25 is slid into place between the ears 23 the leaf 31 ofthe spring 35 is guided into the slot or opening 29 to engage againstthe edge or abutment 30. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 3thatthe leaf 3! of the spring 35 fits closely between the opposite edgesof the slot 29 and is thus held against lateral displacement. It is alsoto be noted that the leaf 3! of the spring 35 assumes a position betweenthe inner ends of the springpins 32 to maintain them in spacedrelationship with their pintles engaged in the apertures 24 in the ears23.

The complete hinge-device is next connected to the watch-case 2 bypressing the pintles 89 at the ends of the spring-pin 20 inwardly andsliding the member 10 into position between the ears or lugs 3 on thewatch-case 2 to cause the pintles to snap into the apertures ll therein.With the hingejoint 5 thus connected to the watch the side wall [5 ofthe member ID abuts the side of the case to hold the bearing-member fromrocking or turning on the pin 20.

With the parts assembled in the above-described relationship the arm orleaf 37 of the spring 35 acts against the abutment 30 of the end member25 to apply pressure tending to swing the talon l on its pivot to closeit into the position illustrated by full lines in Fig. 2; it beingunderstood that the opposite arm or talon I may be connected to thewatch in the same manner so that the ends of the two talons' will bemaintained in overlapping relationship as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawing. In other instances the arms or talons 1 may be proportionedto adapt their ends to meet in abutting or spaced relationship,

When it is desired to apply the bracelet to the Wrist the two arms ortalons I are swung back on their hinges in the manner indicated bydashlines in Fig. 2 to adapt them to be placed around the wrist. As thetalons are released the springs 35 in their hinges act to close themtogether to snugly clasp the wrist. The springs 35 are held undersufficient tension to prevent accidental opening of the arms so that thewatch is held securely on the wrist without danger of disconnectiontherefrom. The watch may be readily released from the wrist by simplyswinging the talons l apart and thus the bracelet is more easily andconveniently applied to and removed from the wrist than with otherconventional types of bracelets heretofore used.

Fig. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein thebearing-men1ber i0 is constructed integral with the watch-case 2 orsoldered or otherwise secured thereto. It will be understood that thislatter form of construction is intended for use with watch-cases havingbracelets applied thereto at the factory where the watches are made:whereas. with the first described form the hinge-member is adapted to beapplied by the jeweler or other tradesman selling the watch and braceletas separate articles.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a particularly ingenious device for hinging the spring-operatedarms or talons of a bracelet to the sides of a watch-case, with themounting compacted into a minimum space and the mechanical elementsentirely enclosed and concealed from view. The device is especiallysimple in construction with its parts adapted for economical manufacturefrom sheet-metal stampings and convenient assembly without the use ofspecial tools.

While the invention is herein shown and described as embodied in apreferred form of construction with one modified form illustrated, it isto be understood that variations may be made in the structure andarrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in thisrespect, I claim:

1. A band or bracelet for wrist-watches comprising opposite arms shapedto conform substantially to the contour of the wrist, a hollowbearing-member on the side of the watch-case, means for pivotallyconnecting an arm to the bearingmember, and a leaf-spring enclosed insaid hollow member with one end acting on the arm to swing it on itspivot.

2. A band or bracelet for wrist-watches comprising a pair of oppositetalons shaped substantially to the contour of the wrist, a hollowbearing-member mounted on the side of the watchcase, means for pivotallyconnecting one of the talons to the bearing-member, and a U-shapedleaf-spring enclosed in said bearing-member with one end in engagementtherewith and the opposite end engaging the talon to swing the latter onits pivot.

3. A band or bracelet for wrist-watches comprising a pair of oppositetalons shaped substantially to the contour of the wrist, a hollowbearing-member mounted on the side of the watchcase, means for pivotallyconnecting the talon to the bearing-member, and a U-shaped leafspringheld within the bearing-member with one leaf engaging the interior ofthe member and the opposite leaf acting against the talon to swing thelatter on its pivot.

4. A band or bracelet for wrist-watches comprising a pair of oppositetalons shaped substantially to the contour of the wrist, a hollowbearing-member mounted on the side of the watchcase, means for pivotallyconnecting a talon to the bearing-member, an abutment on the talonlocated within the bearing-member, and a U-shaped leaf-spring within thebearing-member engaging the abutment to swing the talon on its pivot.

5. A band or bracelet for wrist-watches comprising a pair of oppositetalons shaped substantially to the contour of the wrist, hollowbearingmembers mounted on the opposite sides of the watch-case, meansfor pivotally connecting the talons to the bearing-members, and U-shapedsprings within the bearing-members for actuating the talons to swingthem into engagement with the wrist of the wearer.

6. A band or bracelet for wrist-watches comprising a pair of oppositetalons shaped substantially to the contour of the wrist, a pair ofhollow bearing-members having opposite hinge-ears, transverse pins formounting the bearing-members on the lugs on the opposite sides of thewatch-case, means for hingedly connecting the talons between thehinge-ears of the bearingmembers, and U-shaped leaf-springs in thebearing-members embracing the transverse-pins and acting against thetalons to swing them into engagement with the wrist of the wearer.

'7. A band or bracelet for wrist-watches comprising a pair of oppositetalons shaped substantially to the contour of the wrist, one of saidtalons having its end apertured to provide an abutment, a hollowbearing-member on the side of the watch-case, means for pivotallyconnecting the apertured end of the talon to the bearing-member, and aU-shaped spring having opposite leaves arranged with one of said leavesbearing against the interior of the bearing-member and the other leafprojecting outwardly therefrom into the aperture of the talon andengaging the abutment to swing the talon on its pivot.

8. In combination with a watch-case, a hollow housing on the side of thecase having its outer end open, a talon pivotally connected to thehousing within its open end and cooperating with the housing to form aclosure, and a spring within the housing for engaging the end of thetalon to swing the latter on its pivot.

9. In combination with a watch-case, a bearing-member, means forconnecting the bearing member to the side of the watch-case, aleafspring within the bearing-member and held.

against longitudinal movement by the connecting means, and a talon armpivotally connected to the bearing-member and having an opening at itsend adjacent the bearing-member for receiving the end of the spring tohold it laterally in place,

said spring acting against one edge of the opening to swing the arm onits pivot.

10. In combination with a watch-case, a box like bearing-member fixed tothe side thereof with its outer end open and having hinge-ears withtalon between the hinge-ears on the bearingmember, spring-pins in theloop having pintles engaging the apertures in the hinge-ears, said talonhaving an abutment positioned within the housing, and a leaf-springwithin the bearingmember engaging the abutment to exert pressure on thetalon to swing it on its pivot.

11. In combination with a watch-case having apertured hinge-lugs, ahollow bearing-member positioned between the lugs on the case and havingapertures in alinement with the apertures therein, a U-shapedleaf-spring within the bearing-member, a spring-pin extending betweenthe leaves of the spring and having telescopic pintles projectingthrough the alined apertures in the bearing-member and lugs, atalon-arm, and means for pivotally connecting the talon-arm to thebearing-member, said spring having one end engaging the arm to swing thelatter on its pivot.

12. In combination with a watch-case, a boxlike bearing-member fixed tothe side thereof and having apertured hinge-ears, a talon having abearing loop at its end, spring-pins in the loop projecting into theapertures of the hinge-ears for pivotally mounting the talon on thebearingmember, an abutment on the looped'end of the talon, and aleaf-spring within the bearingmember engaging the abutment on the talonto swing the latter on its pivot.

13. In combination with a watch-case, a hollow box-like bearing-memberformed integral therewith, a pin extending transversely within thebearing-member, a substantially U-shaped leaf-spring housed within thebearing-member with its looped end enclosing the pin, a. talonarm, andmeans for pivotally connecting the talon-arm to the bearing-member withthe leafspring acting against the arm to swing the latter on its pivot.

14. In combination with a watch-case having a box-like projection on itsside, a leaf-spring enclosed within the projection, means for anchoringthe spring in place therein, a talon-arm, and means for pivotallyconnecting the talon arm to the projection with the spring acting on thearm to swing the latter on its pivot.

FRED Hi LYN'DS.

